The Golden Hat-Trick

The Autobiography of Balbir Singh (Senior)
By Samuel Banerjee, Vikas Publishers, 1977

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Celebrations Abroad				We were feted and felicitated and hunted down for autographs. I had been through this experience earlier at London and Helsinki. But Melbourne was different. Our supporters, were flushed with the thrill that India had beaten Pakistan in the Olympic final. Several friends we made on our 1955 New Zealand tour met us again in Melbourne. They were among our most vociferous fans.
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ictory casts its own spell; every nation rejoices in it, and we were no exception. There were the usual rounds of celebrations and hugging and kissing among players and officials.

We were feted and felicitated and hunted down for autographs. I had been through this remarkable experience at London and Helsinki. But Melbourne was different. Our supporters, hundreds of them Australians and New Zealanders, were flushed with the thrill that India had beaten Pakistan in the Olympic final.

Several hundred of enthusiastic friends we made on our 1955 New Zealand tour met us again in Melbourne. They were among our most vociferous fans.

Two of the girls who had been writing to me regularly, saved money round the year, bought air tickets and incurred hotel expenses to come all the way to Melbourne. They were very fond of sports, and spent a fortune to renew acquaintances with our team.

That day when I led my team out to the victory rostrum, I swelled with pride. Sharing the rostrum on either side of me were the captains of Pakistan and Germany, the silver and the bronze medal winners. The crowd cheered us. It was a thrilling experience to acknowledge their applause.

The National Anthem sounded sweet, and the Tricolour, fluttering proudly in the stiff breeze, looked a grand sight. Ansari's bad omen had been forgotten. I whispered to him, "Your sneeze has brought us good luck."

Dolly Nazir, India's water nymph, garlanding author